Projects The Brooks Special - louisb’s 29 lakes roadster build

Drop looks good. What dash insert do you have?

 

It’s an original S&W Ensign panel with a grey insert. Most people run the turned insert but I think the grey one will contrast nicely with the black dash.

—louis

 

Nice find with the original SW.
I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do for the dash, it would be nice to find an original insert of some sort that they had back then.

 

Laying out the hood.



Someone turned me on to using Ram Board for patterns. It's heavy cardboard that comes in 3x50 foot roles for $30. Most big box home improvement stores have it. Works really nice.

---louis

 

Dan from Hill Country Performance posted a few pics of the block prep for my engine on his Intstygram account. Some crack repair and porting work.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Today's pics from Dan. @Hillcountryperf Setting up the block for full flow.




Going to use a full flow filter setup from O'Brien Truckers. Should look good and provide more protection for the flatty. This block is on its last over bore so I want to keep it going as long as possible.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Looks like a lot of work done on it. At least you know it's been done right the first time. Should be a great motor that will last a long time.

 

Spent a week in Seattle and now finally home. Time to work on the hood. Started off bending it around the traditional oxygen tank and then fine tuned it with the Armstrong Thigh Bender.




When I was happy with the fit I made the drivers hood side. I tried out my sheet metal bender but it couldn't handle the hood. So I bent the flang by hand with some scrap lumber and a heavy slapper.



Still need to make the other side, flang the hood, install the latches and send it out for louvers.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Nice job Louis


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

Finished up the hood and rolled it outside to get a good look. Ugh!

Grill shell needs to be lowered more. I am thinking about 1.5"- 2".



--louis

 

Dang it man!!! I would agree with you though.
It's coming together nice, you're really moving along at a good pace.
Aaron

 

Cut two more inches out. Looks much better.



--louis

 

Mo betta brudda.

 

Got the seat back from the upholsterer today.



--louis

 

A buddy found that a S/W Hollywood insert fits a '31 willys dash like they left the factory together...
sorry no pix, his hotrod is in winter storage...

 

@louisb......Who is this?...




...Hamber @Mart Avatar's pal perhaps?

Or a close friend of this Happy Camper below...



Just kidding......however it's amazing how these kooky looking characters pop up from time to time...

Hotrods looking fantastic by the way...





​

 

I didn’t see it till you pointed it out but veddy cool!

—louis

 

How is the flatty build going? Did I miss news on that?


Walt
Outsiders CC

 

No new news on the flathead. Dan has a few engines he needs to get done for customers attending the big show in Austin. So mine is on the back burner till those are done. That is cool with me. He did promise me I would be one of the first ten engines they build this year.

—louis

 

Good thing you caught it now. There are a lot of cars out there with hoods that run uphill. It's a tough thing to get right, but an important part.

 

I ended up sending the radiator back to have 3" cut out. Here is a mock-up. I will have to remake the hood but why should it be any different than the rest of the car. Now I am trying to decide on a louver pattern.



Thanks,

--louis

 

What were ya doing in Seattle?

Sent from my SM-G965U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I was there for work. Second time visiting Seattle and both times it was sunny and beautiful. Mostly hung out around Pike Market, ate lots of good food and enjoyed some good local beer.

—louis

 

I am seriously considering renaming this project the Three Times Roadster because I have redone just about everything three times. (if not more) Case in point, the seat mounts.

First set I made caused the seat to hit the subrails. Second set made the seat too high. If I slouched a few inches I could see through the windshield but otherwise I was looking at the top frame. Third set, which are actually modified ones that came with the seat is just right. (This story sounds familiar.)

My problem is that because of my height I had to move the seat back and the rails weren't aligned with the floor cross members. If you are not 6'4" this is probably not an issue. The solution was to weld the mounts to the seat frame. It makes them no longer adjustable but that is an issue for the next owner.






Here are the mounts from Bengels (@Metaltwister) bolted in place. You can see the slots to make them adjustable.

I welded in a cross bar to the mounts to keep everything lined up. Unfortunately, I then welded them to the seat upside down so nothing lined up. 0.o

Fortunately it was a quick fix with a grinder and the hot metal glue gun. Welding around new upholstery is nerve-wracking!




I did have to cut into the subrails to get everything to clear. The seat back adjuster and seat stops are the issue and hit the subrail.



This got the seat down 2" and I can actually see through the windshield. Muy Bueno.

Thanks,

--louis

 

Hi Louis, I have really enjoyed watching you get your roadster together. Thank you for all your posts and pictures. I was sad to see how your first hood worked out. It was definitely too high at the radiator. I think it can also end up being too low. I don't know if looking at what I thought about and what I did to figure out how high my radiator should be will help you but it might be worth a minute to look at the only thread I have done. Sorry, I am not computer literate enough to direct you to it. Good luck with your second attempt. HFH.

 

Thanks for the input and I really like your roadster. That grill is sweet!
(https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/getting-the-lines-right.1105689/)

I will keep that in mind when I get the radiator back. It’s easier to raise a radiator than shorten it.

—louis

 

I feel your pain on the seat and many of your trials and successes (not errors but learning moments).
I've had my roadster since January, 1965 with many renditions, seats and postioning especially, I always hate looking at the top of the winsheild frame and I,m only 6 foot. Pretty much solved the problem like you did, but it's still cozy. Or maybe I'm older and fatter.

 

@Metal Mover That is a sweet roadster! If you have had it since ‘65 you must have lots of great memories and stories with it.

Thanks,

—louis

 

Yup, three times is about right! I can't tell you how many things I have had to do over during my build. Like Metal Mover said, It's all about learning. You're moving forward and making progress though, and that's the important thing.
The seat looks good, nice and low now. What did you do about the subrails, weld a filler in?

 

Yeah I will weld in some filler panels. I have a good bit of welding to do before I can prep for paint. I am hoping to get it into primer next month.

—louis